politesse
See also: Politesse
EnglishEdit
EtymologyEdit
From French politesse, from Italian politezza, from polito, past participle of pulire (“to clean”), from Latin polire, present active infinite form of poliō (“I polish”).
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
politesse (countable and uncountable, plural politesses)
- Civility, politeness, courtesy or gallantry; or an instance of this.
- 1968, Keith Richards, Mick Jagger (lyrics and music), “Sympathy for the Devil”, in Beggars Banquet, performed by Rolling Stones:
- So if you meet me, have some courtesy / Have some sympathy, and some taste / Use all your well-learned politesse / Or I'll lay your soul to waste
- 1978, Iris Murdoch, The Sea, The Sea, Vintage, published 1999, pages 56-57:
- The reference in his letter to ‘having a drink’ is of course just an empty politesse.
- 2011, Thomas Penn, Winter King, Penguin, published 2012, page 7:
- The soft politesse concealed a sharp observer, a gleaner of information, cool under pressure and used to having to think several steps ahead […]
TranslationsEdit
civility, courtesy
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FrenchEdit
EtymologyEdit
Borrowed from Italian politezza.
PronunciationEdit
NounEdit
politesse f (plural politesses)
- politeness, courtesy
- Antonym: impolitesse
- polite remark/action
Related termsEdit
DescendantsEdit
- → English: politesse
Further readingEdit
- “politesse” in Trésor de la langue française informatisé (The Digitized Treasury of the French Language).